I've been researching and researching on breeding before I ever took the plunge and purchased a breeding pair of yorkies. I wanted to do it as a hobby and because I absolutely love the breed & tired of hearing how someone purchased a substandard or sick dog and were nothing short of ripped off, lied to, and left hanging with disappointment & a mountain of vet bills. It happens everyday and just sickens me.
I dont mind spending the $ to do it right. My dog's health/welfare and
offspring are most important. Im prepared for marking, belly bands, sleepless nights, yuckie messes and howling......the whole thing. I work fulltime but have a home office with a very flexible work schedule and have plenty of PTO.
But I must say that this has literally cost me a fortune! We could have bought a truck with the money we've spent over just the past few months. If thats what it takes to bring someone reputable to my area then so be it!!!! Im on a mission to bring quality dogs to my area & put a stop to people just throwing together two dogs just to make a buck and leaving the new dog owners to suffer the consequences. Yes-its happened to me before so I know exactly how it feels to get taken by greeders.
On my search for my breeder pair--(took months on end) I asked the questions that a regular pet buyer wouldnt....i.e. What have your dam and stud been tested for? or better yet-can you tell me about your lines? hahahaha you'd have thought that I asked what planet did you come from? It seems the average breeder does not do much pre-breeding tests or screenings or even know their lines. 80% of the time I asked those questions-never heard from the breeder again. Had a very long list of scratched offs and very few possibilities. I did have a hard time finding a vet in my area to even perform the tests soooo not many breeders are doing this in my area either. The research I had to do was very extensive & seemed to drag on forever. Was very frustrating.
I finally do have my dogs (awesome quality), but have found that locating the best was only half the battle.....We're nowhere near being done shelling out the $. I just dont see how the "average joe" could even afford to breed or have more than one breeding pair. When breeders say they dont make any money--they are not lying. We are a middle class family & I could have ran my entire household for 3 months....mortgage, car payment--(the whole shabang) on what I've spent so far and havent even reached the first breeding yet! I cant imagine what the final tally will be after the first litter comes. Wayy into the thousands....I dont ever see making back the money I've spent, but thats not why I chose to do it.
For people who just want to breed their dog once
correctly and thats it (like many people come on here and say)...let me tell you-I will vouch, its NOT worth it. It would be wayyyyy wayyyyy cheaper just to purchase another dog. I could have bought several litters of yorkies with what its cost me so far.
I think I would just die if I went through all of this and my dam had to have a C-section or worse & lost her. My dogs will be with me forever (breeders or not). Their welfare and the welfare of each and every single pup are a responsiblity I chose to take on when I chose to do this.
Over the course of all of this, I have really come to understand why some breeders seem uptight about people breeding their dogs on these forums. Just like marriage, its not something to enter into lightly and I must give a round of applause to those who do it and do it right. Those who step up to the plate and say "are you sure you know what your getting into".....and to get criticised for being the one who just wanted to educate those who are going into breeding blindly.
As time passes though, I would appreciate it if I could get advise and support from those who are more experienced than me on this forum. I'm not here just looking for answers to my occasional questions....Im here to make friends too.
